Play the Simon says game online for free: a color memory game where four colored pads light up in a pattern, and you tap them back in the same order. Each round adds one more color, so you must remember a longer pattern every time, and the game ends when you press a wrong pad. Choose the Classic speed or the Fast speed, turn the sound on to hear a note for each color, and see how many you can remember in a row. This Simon memory game works on phones and tablets, needs no sign-up, and comes with a printable pattern sheet.
Simon says game: play and print
Play the Simon says color memory game above, then print the pattern sheet to record rounds one to ten. The pictures show a pad lighting up during the pattern, round five waiting for your turn and the game over screen.
How the Simon says color memory game works
- Press Start and watch. One pad lights up. Remember its color.
- Repeat the pattern. Tap the pad, or press 1 to 4 on a keyboard for green, red, yellow and blue.
- Each round adds one color. The pattern grows by one, and the whole pattern replays from the start.
- A wrong pad ends the game. The score is how many colors you remembered in a row, and the game tells you which color came next.
Simon says color game: Classic and Fast speeds
This Simon says color game speeds up as the pattern grows. In Classic mode each color is shown for about 600 milliseconds at the start, getting shorter by 20 milliseconds every round until it reaches 260. Fast mode starts at 420 and drops by 18 per round to a floor of 180. The table also shows how many different patterns are possible, which is 4 multiplied by itself once for each round:
| Round | Classic gap | Fast gap | Possible patterns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 580 ms | 402 ms | 4 |
| 3 | 540 ms | 366 ms | 64 |
| 5 | 500 ms | 330 ms | 1,024 |
| 8 | 440 ms | 276 ms | 65,536 |
| 10 | 400 ms | 240 ms | 1,048,576 |
| 12 | 360 ms | 204 ms | 16,777,216 |
| 14 | 320 ms | 180 ms | 268,435,456 |
| 17 | 260 ms | 180 ms | 17,179,869,184 |
| 20 | 260 ms | 180 ms | 1,099,511,627,776 |
By round ten there are over a million possible patterns, so you cannot learn them by heart. A pattern memory game like this one trains short-term memory, the part of the mind that holds a few items for a few seconds. Psychologist George Miller famously suggested that most people can hold about seven items at once, an idea described in Wikipedia’s article on the magical number seven, plus or minus two.
Memory games for kids: ways to remember longer patterns
| Strategy | How to do it | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Say it aloud | Whisper “green, red, red, blue” as the pattern plays | Words are easier to hold than flashes |
| Chunk it | Group the colors in threes: green red red / blue yellow | Three small groups are easier than one long list |
| Follow the notes | Turn the sound on and hum the tune | Each color has its own pitch |
| Tap along | Move a finger over the pads as you watch | The movement is a second memory |
| Relax | Take a breath before your turn | Stress makes it harder to recall |
The four notes in the Simon game
Each pad plays its own tone, and together they form a chord, so a pattern sounds like a little tune:
| Pad | Pitch | Musical note |
|---|---|---|
| Green | 330 Hz | E4 |
| Red | 392 Hz | G4 |
| Yellow | 494 Hz | B4 |
| Blue | 587 Hz | D5 |
The four notes are E, G, B and D, which make an E minor seventh chord, a gentle sound that does not clash however the pattern goes. The tones are only played if you switch Sound on, so the game also works quietly in a classroom.
Simon says game for kids: the playground version
Many people searching for a Simon says game mean the party game where a leader gives commands. Players follow only if the command starts with “Simon says”, and anyone who moves after another command is out. Wikipedia’s Simon says article describes the rules. The electronic color game on this page is a different game, named after Simon, a handheld toy invented by Ralph Baer and Howard Morrison and sold from 1978. You can use both: play the color memory game first, then lead a round of the party game with commands such as:
- Simon says touch your toes
- Simon says clap three times
- Simon says hop on one foot
- Simon says spin around
- Simon says pat your head
Then try the commands without the “Simon says” start, and see who is out. It works well as a listening and self-control game for young children.
Simon pattern memory printable
The printable Simon pattern sheet has rows for rounds one to ten, with the right number of circles in each. Children watch the game, write G, R, Y or B in the circles, and check them against the screen. Writing the pattern down shows which round is hardest to remember, and a child can compare the first and the fifth try to see the memory improve.
Simon says color memory game: frequently asked questions
What is the Simon says game?
This one is a color memory game: four colored pads light up in a pattern, and you repeat it. The name also belongs to a party game in which players follow commands that start with “Simon says”.
How do you win the Simon memory game?
There is no final win. Your score is how many colors you remembered in a row, and the goal is to beat your best score.
What is the difference between Classic and Fast?
Classic shows each color for longer and speeds up gently. Fast starts quicker, and reaches its top speed by round fourteen.
How can I remember a long pattern?
Say the colors aloud, group them in threes and follow the notes. Practice a few minutes a day and the score will rise.
Is the Simon says game free, and do kids need an account?
Yes, it is free, and no account is needed. Best scores are saved only in the browser on this device.
Does it work on phones and tablets?
Yes. Every game is built for touch first and also works with a mouse on a computer.